adams



(No Model.)

G. B. ADAMS.

CUFF BUTTON. No. 360,368. Patentd Mar. 29, 1887.

INVENTOVI? Geog p'eflfldams A NOR/VH3).

N. PETERS, Pbclol ihognphcr Washinginn, D. C,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE E. ADAMS, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO AD SAME PLACE.

AMS MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF

CUFF-BUTTON.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 360,368, dated March 29, 1887.

Application filed September 7, 1886. Serial No. 212,879. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Beitknown that I, GEORGE B. Aniins, a citizen of the United States, residing at Newark, 1n the county ofEsseX and State ofNew Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cuff-Buttons; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains IO to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

To avoid the annoyance caused by the want 1 of suitable means for securing cuffs within" the sleeve of a garment, particularly womens garments, and to provide an effective and at the same time an ornamental device by means of i which the cuffs may be readily and securely at- 2;) tached to and easily detached from the sleeves of said garment, is the primary object of this invention.

The said invention consists of a cufflbutton having a shank and shoe of any approved construction, but the head of which is formed into or provided with clamping-jaws, or is so con structed as to seize the sleeve of the garment within which the cuff is inserted and to hold the said cuff securely in position, the upper jaw of said head,or that portion which is seen outside of the sleeve,being so formed as to have the appearance of a button or the face ofa cuff-button.

In the accompanying sheet of drawings, in which various forms of construction of the invention are illustrated, Figure 1 is a view showing the relation of the improved button to the cuff and sleeve when worn. v Fig. 2 is a plan ofa round cuff-button, the head of which is adapted to seize the sleeve. Fig. 3 is a section of Fig. 2 through line 00. Fig. 4. is aplan of the under side of the same. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of an oblong button with the jaws open. Fig. 6 is an elevation of a similarly-shaped button having another form of shoe. Figs. 7 and 8 are perspective views of one form of the jaw to which the shank is secured and aholding-spri'ng, respectively. Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the said holdingspring, provided with teeth thereon. Fig. 9

is a sectional view illustrating a variation in the arrangement and construction of the spring and lower jaw; and Fig. 10 is a perspective view of one end of the lower jaw shown in the next preceding figure.

Similar letters of reference are employed to indicate corresponding parts in each of said views.

The method usually employed by women and children, for whose use this invention is especially designed,in securing the cuffs within the garment-sleeve is to pin them together, which is attended with great inconvenience, and when the cuffs are well starched causes a great deal of annoyance. The improved cuffbutton is intended to avoid this difficulty and to secureacuff-button or cuff and sleeve holder which in outward appearance is identical with an ordinary cuff-button.

In the figures of the drawings, a indicates the upper jaw or button-like portion of the head of the button; I), the lower jaw; c, the shank, which is secured to the said lower jaw, and (l the shoe or back plate.

As shown in said figures, the construction, arrangement, and operation of the clampingjaws which form the head of the cuff-button may be varied in many ways, being hinged or pivoted together and holding the end of the sleeve therebetween when the button is adjusted in wearing position, as indicated in Fig. 1.

As shownin said drawings, the outward appearance of the upper button-like portion of the head a, particularly when in wearing position, is similar to an ordinary button of like outline, the said upper button or jaw being preferably formed so as to contain and conceal all of the mechanism by which the jaws are caused to grip the sleeve.

The spring or other gripping mechanism of the button is preferably arranged in the button -like portion of the head, as above stated, because the majority of cuffbuttons are made with a hollow deep face, to give an out- 9 5 Ward appearance of solidity, and by thus forming the button similar to those already approved of by the public a convenient receptacle for the spring is provided, and at the same time a salable form of button is secured.

It too will be understood, however, that thearrangement of the spring is not limited to its position in the upperjaw or button, as it may be otherwise placed and produce the desired resultviz., to cause the holding-contact of the aws.

WVhen formed as shown in Figs. 1 to 6, inclusive, the upper button-like portion or jaw consists of a casing, a, and a bottom plate, a, between which is arranged a spring, 6. The plate a is perforated at a, and preferably so at a, as indicated, the T end of the lower jaw, I), projecting up through the opening a" in the plate a and bearingagainst the end of the spring, substantially as indicated. The said jaw b is bentsubstant-ially as illustrated inFig.

7, with a T end, I), and an upwardly-bent toothed end, If, and when arranged in operative relation with the upper jaw or button, as in Fig. 3, said toothed end projects up into the opening a.

By reference to Figs. 3, 7, and 12, it will be seen that the under jaw, b, is bent near the point where the jaws are hinged together, projecting downward and away from the button or upperjaw, and then extending in a direction parallel, or approximately so, with the said upper jaw. The purpose of this construction is to leave a space between the hinged button and under jaw to receive the end of the sleeve, as shown in Fig. 1, and thereby permitting the button to lie flat on the arm and still accommodate itself to different thicknesses of material, instead of being tilted up away from the arm, which would be the case if sufficient space were not provided between the jaws to receive said sleeve. By thus providing an opening or perforation in the upper jaw or button to receive the teeth or tooth on the lower jaw, instead of leaving the button or under plate solid, the points of said teeth are protected and are prevented from being dulled or broken by repeatedly striking the solid under side of the button. Another ad vantage of this construction is that the teeth may be made much longer, so as to perforate the sleeve when employed as a cuff-holder, and yet not cause the toothed end of the under jaw to stand away from the upper jaw, and thus destroy the parallelism of the jaws when used simply as a cuff-button, as indicated in Fig. 3. The portion a of the plate which is cut out to form the opening a is not entirely removed, but is turned up within the cavity in the casing or button a, and between said lip a and the side of the casing is arranged the T end 0 of the spring 0, and is thereby prevented from turning. This construction is especially adapted for round buttons, as shown in Figs. 2 to 4. The said spring is further bent at an angle at the end 0, and is clamped between the top plate of the casing and the plate a, the opposite end of the spring being free and bearing upon the T end of the jaw Z). If desirable, the end e of the spring 6 may be provided with teeth, as shown in Fig. 8, and extend down through the plate a and engage with the teeth of the'jaw b, to more firmly hold the sleeve therebetween.

In Figs. 9 and 10 is illustrated another method of arranging the jaw I and spring, in which the jaw is perforated at b to receive the end of the spring and is bent at b", the said bent end being held between the spring and the top of the casing, the said jaw, when operated, taking the position shown by the dotted llne in Fig. 9.

To facilitate the insertion of the button in the cuff any shoe or back may be adopted which will answer the purpose. In Figs. and 6 are illustrated two forms of construction which are found to be practical, that shown n Fig. 5 consisting of an oblong shoe-plate en tending in its greatest length in the same direction as the lower jaw, Z). The long narrow form of said plate permits the ready insertion thereof into the button-hole of the cuff, and when the button is turned to seize the sleeve with the jaws of the head the said oblong plate lies across the button-hole and effectually prevents its detachment therefrom. The form shown in Fig. 6 consists of a plate set eccentrically on the shank or extending on one side thereof, which also lies across the buttonliole when the button is in its holding position similarly to the oblong plate.

As will be understood, the form and ornamentation of the face may be varied indelinitely, as taste or fashion may dictate, without departing from the principle of construction involved in the invention, the different constructions shown serving to illustrate some of the various methods of carrying out the invention, to which it is not my intention to limit the same.

The button may be worn as an ordinary cuffbutton, if desired. hen used to retain the cuff within the sleeve the button or upper jaw, a, is lifted, the sleeve drawn up over the lower jaw, and the button or upper jaw closed down upon the sleeve, thereby holding the same securelyand retaining the culfin its proper position. This feature is of practical importance, as it enlarges the use of the cuffbutton and does not necessitate purchasing two pairs of buttons, should it be desirable to wear the but ton without using this functioni. 0., of bold ing the sleeve and cuff together-thereof.

The peculiar construction ofthe upper button-like portion or jaw of the head as a casing and the arrangement of the spring therein, and also the form and arrangement of the lower jaw, whereby it is concealed by the overprojecting edges of the button or casing, serve to produce and heighten the effect of its reseni; blance to an ordinary button. Further, as the upper jaw is made to represent the face of a button, the same effect is attained when the jaws seize the sleeve, as illustrated in the drawings, nothing appearing to mar the effect, as the lower jaw is concealed by the sleeve, and also as the said jaw enters the casing some distance from the outer edge thereof.

I am aware that the plate'a may be dis ICO casing and arranging all of the cooperating parts, as'the spring, &c., therein, no opportunity is afforded for lace or other trimming to catch in between the spring and the end of the lower jaw, as will be understood.

Having thus described my invention, I de sire to claim the following:

1. The combination, with a shoe or back plate and the shank of a cuff-button, of a head portion secured to said shank, consisting of co-operating clamping-jaws hinged together, the lower clamping-jaw projecting up into the upper clamping jaw or face, which consists of a casing, as set forth, and engaging with a spring arranged in said casing and operating to cause the holding-contact of the jaws, for the purposes set forth.

2. The combination, with a shoe or back plate and the shank of a culfbutton, of a head portion secured to said shank, consisting of cooperating clamping-jaws hinged'together, the upper clamping jaw or face consisting of a casing, 0, having an under perforated plate, ct, through which the lower clamping-jaw projects up into said casing and engages with a 7 spring arranged therein, and said spring, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. In a cnffbntton, the combination of a shoe or back plate, a shank, an under jaw of the face or head portion secured tosaid shank and provided with a T end, the npperjaw of said face or head portion, consisting of a casing having a perforated bottom plate through which the T end of said lower jaw projects into the interior of said casing, and a spr ng arranged within said casing and engaging with the T end of the lower jaw, for the purposes set forth.

4. In a cuff button, the combination, with a shoe or back plate and the shank thereof, of a head portion consisting of cooperating toothed clamping-jaws hinged together, the upperjaw or face of said head consisting of a button, a, and the lowerjaw of a plate, Z1, bent away from said upper jaw near the hinge and then extending in a direction parallel, or ap proximately so, with said upper jaw, leaving a space thercbetween to receive the end of the sleeve, and a spring constructed and arranged to cause the holding-contact of said jaws upon said sleeve when inserted therebetween, for the purpose set forth.

5. Ina cuff-button, the combination, with a shoe or back plate and the shank thereof, of a head portion consisting of co-operating clamping-jaws hinged together, the upper jaw consisting of a button provided with an opening or perforation therein to receive a tooth or teeth on the lower jaw, and the lower jaw provided with a tooth or teeth thereon, which, when thejaws are closed, project up into the opening in said upper jaw or button, and a spring constructed and arranged to cause the holdingcontact of the said jaws, for the purposes set forth.

In testimony that I claim the invention set forth above I have hereunto set my hand this 26th day of August, 1886.

GEORGE B. ADAMS.

Witnesses:

FREDK. F. CAMPBELL, FREDK. G. FRAENTZEL. 

